Global Ministries Leader Joins Humanitarian Appeal on Syria

Refugee children from Syria enjoy time in child-friendly space at Kilis, Turkey which is funded by UMCOR. Credit James Rollins.

January 21, 2016 - The General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church welcomes the opportunity to join with other nongovernmental and humanitarian organizations in the accompanying appeal regarding the continuing warfare in Syria. The signers collectively call for, first, a diplomatic end to the six-year-old war that is destroying Syria; and second, until that is achieved, safe access to care for the suffering people, an end to attacks on civilians, freedom of movement, and other measures to save lives. The requests and actions outlined in this coordinated appeal are in compliance with Global Ministries’ goals of alleviating human suffering and promoting justice, peace, and freedom.

We are keenly aware through our affiliate, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), of the prolonged suffering of the Syrian people in a war that has laid waste to the social, economic, agricultural, and transportation infrastructures of Syria, and has caused more than 4 million Syrians to seek refuge in other countries. UMCOR and other relief agencies have poured millions of dollars into care for victims and refugees. UMCOR has expended more than US $3.5 million since August 2010 on projects that assist refugees and persons internally displaced by the Syria/Iraq conflict.

The situation has become unconscionable. The compassion of humanity cannot allow the carnage, displacement, starvation, and human rights violations to continue. It is imperative that all people of faith and good will raise their voices on behalf of peace in Syria, and until that day, insist on open, safe avenues for humanitarian organizations to respond to acute civilian needs.

Three years ago, the leaders of UN humanitarian agencies issued an urgent appeal to those who could end the conflict in Syria. They called for every effort to save the Syrian people. “Enough”, they said, of the suffering and bloodshed.

That was three years ago.

Now, the war is approaching its sixth brutal year. The bloodshed continues. The suffering deepens.

So today, we – leaders of humanitarian Non-Governmental Organisations and UN Agencies - appeal not only to governments but to each of you - citizens around the world – to add your voices in urging an end to the carnage. To urge that all parties reach agreement on a ceasefire and a path to peace.

More than ever before, the world needs to hear a collective public voice calling for an end to this outrage. Because this conflict and its consequences touch us all.

It touches those in Syria who have lost loved ones and livelihoods, who have been uprooted from their homes, or who live in desperation under siege. Today, some 13.5 million people inside Syria need humanitarian assistance. That is not simply a statistic. These are 13.5 million individual human beings whose lives and futures are in jeopardy.

It touches the families who, with few options for a better future, set out on perilous journeys to foreign lands in search of refuge. The war has seen 4.4 million people flee to neighbouring countries and beyond.

It touches a generation of children and young people who – deprived of education and traumatized by the horrors they have experienced – increasingly see their future shaped only by violence.

It touches those far beyond Syria who have seen its violence reach the streets, offices and restaurants closer to their homes.

And it touches all those around the world whose economic wellbeing is affected, in ways visible and invisible, by the conflict.

Those with the ability to stop the suffering can - and therefore should - take action now. Until there is a diplomatic solution to the fighting, such action should include:

Unimpeded and sustained access for humanitarian organizations to bring immediate relief to all those in need inside Syria

Humanitarian pauses and unconditional, monitored ceasefires to allow food and other urgent assistance to be delivered to civilians, vaccinations and other health campaigns, and for children to return to school

A cessation of attacks on civilian infrastructure – so that schools and hospitals and water supplies are kept safe

Freedom of movement for all civilians and the immediate lifting of all sieges by all parties

These are practical actions. There is no practical reason they could not be implemented if there is the will to do so.

In the name of our shared humanity… for the sake of the millions of innocents who have already suffered so much… and for the millions more whose lives and futures hang in the balance, we call for action now.